Monitor Audio Studio 89: A Modern Classic Speaker That Pays Homage to the Past
Monitor Audio’s new Studio 89 speakers ($2,500/pair) celebrate the brand’s iconic Studio Series from decades past while incorporating all of the latest technology that the company has to offer. The Studio 89 is a compact, thoroughly modern speaker that pays homage to the black high-gloss finish and gold anodized drivers of the larger Monitor Audio Studio 15 from 1989. The Studio 89 is a more compact and thoroughly modern design, inside and out. The black and gold color combination is the only available finish option, and while I don’t normally go for gloss black speakers, the Studio 89 looks like a young Sean Connery in a perfectly-tailored tuxedo — absolute class and composure from head to toe.
The Studio 89’s Design and Technology
Monitor Audio says that the new third-generation MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphragm) tweeter is a technical highlight, with a claimed frequency response reaching up to 60kHz (conventional AMTs tend to reach around 40kHz). A carefully shaped waveguide promises more even dispersion characteristics than a typical AMT while delivering the high responsiveness and low distortion that AMT tweeters are prized for, owing to the fact that AMT drivers have lower mass than conventional dome alternatives, and are driven across more of the transducer’s surface. The waveguide and intricately-patterned tweeter grille on the Studio 89’s MPD III tweeter were inherited from the flagship Hyphn, which also inspired the hexagonal design language visible in the metallic mesh. Meanwhile, the Studio 89’s mid-bass drivers feature Monitor Audio’s RDT (Rigid-Diaphragm Technology). Also trickled down from the Hyphn, these cones are made of three ultra-thin layers to ensure rigidity and strength. The outer skin is made of C-CAM, Monitor Audio’s signature ceramic-coated aluminum magnesium material, which the company has used in its cone drivers for decades now. This layer sits on top of a Nomex honeycomb central core. Finally, the underside skin is made of woven carbon fiber. Monitor Audio says that the resulting sandwich material is “super lightweight and very, very strong.” The two 4 ¼-inch drivers have a combined cone area similar to that of a single 6-inch driver. The speaker’s specs suggest that its bass response rolls off substantially at around 50Hz, which isn’t surprising for a speaker measuring about 14 inches tall, six inches wide, and 14 inches deep. Some similarly-priced speakers will deliver deeper bass, but users planning to pair the Studio 89 with a subwoofer or two won’t be bothered.
The Studio 89’s Sound
Monitor Audio says that the drivers are seamlessly blended via a highly-optimized third-order crossover that ensures “perfect frequency response across each drive unit for total symmetry, which helps control sound dispersion.” Sound dispersion and integration are also reportedly improved by the vertical MTM driver configuration. In addition to rigorous measurements, the crossovers have reportedly “undergone hours of listening and part selection, using only the very best bespoke polypropylene and polyester capacitors, air-core and low-loss laminated steel-core inductors to provide maximum signal transfer and reduced distortion for optimum sound delivery.”
The Studio 89’s Legacy and Future
The Studio 89 is a testament to Monitor Audio’s commitment to innovation and its desire to build upon its rich legacy. Launched in 1989, the original Studio Series was a turning point for Monitor Audio. It incorporated for the first time all of our key technologies of metal dome tweeters and metal cone drivers. And this is something that we wanted to celebrate. It’s 35 years since that range came out and we wanted to look at recreating what that product range did for the organization, but in a vision-forward way.
“Over the last few years, as an engineering team we’ve worked on some amazing products. We delivered the new Platium 3G series, and we’ve also delivered the range-topping Hyphn. Within these products, we’ve developed new technologies. We found new ways of improving loudspeakers. And we felt that taking a platform that already existed (in the 2018 Studio speaker) and deploying these technologies to it, we could really produce a magical speaker,” said Michael Hedges, Technical Director of Monitor Audio.
Conclusion: A Speaker That Is Both Retro and Modern
The Monitor Audio Studio 89 is a compelling combination of retro aesthetics and modern technology. The Studio 89 is a testament to Monitor Audio’s commitment to innovation and its desire to build upon its rich legacy. It’s a speaker that will appeal to both audiophiles and casual listeners alike. The Studio 89 is a great option for anyone looking for a high-quality speaker system that offers a balanced sound signature with a touch of retro charm.
